The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-05

ruin for the coming two years. The simple statement
of that fact most extraordinary indictment of
''somebody." He had no doubt whatever that it the
whole could have been left open TO the full and
free deliberation of Congress- something would have
beer doneSyhich would have been credit TO the
coursFy. So far as the Senate concerned the
Reco. "a would show that the debates and votes
Both sides of the chamber had been fully up to the
popular demand. He could not fathom the motive of
these who had practically plucked away and for
hidden Congress TO do anything in this matter He
knew that there had been hanging around the halls
and corridors of the Capitol representing the
Haskell gun and representing the insolvept concern
that wanted to manufacture twelveinch cast-iron
guns and innumerable cast-ron mortars Men had
tried TO tie Congress to those wornout old projects;
but they had completely failed. Thanks to pa
srotsm Congress had agreed to order vessels for tho
navy and of the most modern type for the ships
md it had been placed within the hands of the Score
gary of the Navy to enter contracts for II 900
tons of forged steel of the best class He pred ed
chat before next December there would be in this
country plant capable of taking any contract for
steel.
Mr.. German the third conferee, thought that
neither of his feowconferees had stated the matter
the board should consist of the Secretary of War
Secretary of the Navy the General of the army and
two civilians TO be appointed by the President The
proposition had come up to buy Sc, 600, 900 worth
of steel to be manufactured in the shops
As to that there difference Of opinion, but it
was coupled with the condition from the House
ferees that additional appropriation should be
made throwing open to the inventive genius of the
country the opportunity to manufacture guns The
House conferees knew that there sufficient en-
terprise talent and skill i'll the manufacturers and
mechanics of the country, not only to produce the
steel, but to make the guns. 1t had also been in
sisted upon with great force the House conferees
that it would be ,rlwise for the government to
tract for so large amount of steel until the actual
tests had be made by firing the guns.
At this point Mr.. German yielded the floor tenn
porarily and the conference report laid aside in
formally in order to let other matters of business be
rushed through.
The following bills were passed: Senate bill ap-
proprating $50 900 for the expenses of Senate in.
Orde fort be
loan of articles to the industrial expos
ton at Minneapolis; House bill appropriating $780,
900 for public building at East Saginaw, Mich;
amend the act for the construction of bridges
tie Cumberland and Caney Fork rivers in Tennessee.
The conference report on the bill to amend the
national banking law by adding to the number of re
serve cities agreed to. The bill is in the nature
Of substitute and designates San Francisco by NAME
Senators Sherman and Salisbury appointed
70 Join like committee the part of the House to
sait on the President and inform him that the two
aouses had completed their business and were ready
10 adjourn unless he had something further to submit
The discussion of the conference report on the fort
ficatons bill resumed and Mr.. German continued
his remarks. He declared his belief that if
10000. 900 had been appropriated for steel guns
manufactured in the United States not gun could
have been obtained within the next two three years
Cast-iron guns steel gnns were the only guns-of
greater than S-inch calibre-that could be now
structed here He regretted exceedingly that the ap
preparation in the naval bill had not been made $12,
O0o, 900 more than it was. But he regretted above
all other things that Congress had not been able to
take the manufacture of guns out of the rut in which
It lay The organization of the Ordnance Bureau
such that young men of talent and enterprise and
genius were kept in the background or banished to
some outpost, and it ''old fossils that were at
the head of that bureaus and they could not be got rid
Of because they had fixed and certain tenure That
what the House conferees had insisted upon, and
svery fair-mnded would say that they right.
He spoke of John Roach as having been SACRIFICED
to that same systems and said that that sacrifice had
done to strike down the interest of ship building
In this country than anything else which had occurred
within the last generation.
Mr.. Hawley replied to Mr.. German.
The presiding officer announced the appointment of
Senators Cockre,i Harris Jones of Arkansas Platt
and Cullom the committee investigation into the
executive departments Senators Dolph and Cockrell
TO attend the annual examinations at the Military
Academy, and Senators Dawes and Gray on the board
of examiners at the Naval Academy.
The presiding officer signed, at 145 the enrolled
District of Columbia appropriation BILL and then it
was rushed" to the President for signature.
Mr. Hale announced that the conference committee
on the deficiency bill had agreed report but
the amendments were very numerous, and had not
been printed or numbered the committee not yet
able to present its report He hoped to be able 10 do
within the next seventeen minutes.
resolution of thanks to the presiding officer for
bis ability, courtesy and impartialty offered by
Mr.. Harris and unanimously adopted.
Bills passed for public buildings at Paterson,
n. j., and Jacksonville Fla
Mr.. Dawes pleaded business engagements as a rea-
why he could not attend the annual examination
at Annapolis, and Mr.. Adrch was appointed in his
place.
About this point Of time-really about noon, but
with the hands of the clockda lingering ysteriousy
about the quarter before-there a subsistence of
business and general lu in the Senate chamber it
being understood that the President of the United
States his way to the Capitol. One OF his
secretaries, Mr.. Pruden. appeared at the door and
announced that the President had approved and
signed several bills. The President himself. had,
about that time reached his room in the Capitol.
Senator Sherman, with Senator Salisbury. re-
ported that the committee to wait the President
of the United States and inquire if he had any fur
Their communication to make to Congress. had per-
formed that duty and had been assured by the Pres
dsnt that he had no further communication to make.
The presiding officer then announced that the con-
stituona period of the Forty ninth Congress having
been completed, the Senate stood adjourned, without
day.
The dial of the Senate clock showed il lacked five
minutes of the hour of noon but the actual time
sour minutes past. Mr.. Hale had been able,
within the seventeen minutes to which he lin
ted have prepared and to present the conference
report the general deficiency appropriation bill
and; consequently, the bill has failed to become
law
Last Session of the House.